Read Online Lakota Flower by Janelle Taylor - Free Book Online Page A

the decision stuck in his cousin’s craw, and the man was up to spiteful mischief. “Why do you want her?”
    “My mother has no daughter or son’s wife to help her with her tasks and she grows older and weaker with each passing season. I have watched the white girl; she works hard and obeys. If two ponies are not enough, name how many you want for her.”
    Cloud Chaser struggled to conceal his anger, positive theman was lying. He repeated, “She is not for trade. Dawn has need of her in our tepee.”
    “Your mate is young and strong, but my mother is not. How can you, the son of our chief, refuse to help Rising Bear’s sister when she is in need? Where are your Generosity and Wisdom? Are you cruel and selfish?”
    So, you cunningly fling two of our Four Virtues and insults into my face to provoke me to sell her to you! If I did, you would surely abuse her to spite me! He locked gazes with his rival and stressed, “She is not for trade. Your bad words to me shame you, my cousin, for I have proven them wrong.”
    “Do you refuse because it would anger War Eagle?”
    Once more, Cloud Chaser was astonished by the man’s bold words, as it was unlike Two Feathers to also insult his own full-blooded cousin. “If my brother had wanted her to serve him, he would not have given her to us.”
    “Perhaps he did so to save face when she calls to him as a woman.”
    Cloud Chaser grasped the man’s meaning—unbidden lust for Caroline. “Why do you speak such harsh words of your cousin and my brother?”
    “If they are untrue, why do they anger you?”
    Cloud Chaser refuted, “Your insults and sly plans are what anger me.”
    “I go now, but think on my words and large offer,” Two Feathers told him and sauntered away.
    Macha, having overheard the exchange from inside the tepee, joined Cloud Chaser and said, “His deed and heart are bad, my husband, for he knows it is not our custom to trade away a gift from another.”
    Cloud Chaser placed his arm around her waist. “That is true, my wife. He still hates me for being part white and for stealing you away from him.”
    “You did not steal me from him, for he had no claim onme. I do not know why he wanted me to join to him, for he does not love me.”
    He reminded her, “He desires you as a woman and he wants to injure me. He has hated me since we were children. I prayed such bad feelings would leave him and we could have peace between us. For a while we had a truce but he has broken it. Why, I do not know.”
    “Surely an evil spirit dwells within him. After we eat, you must find your brother and warn him of your cousin’s mischief.”
    “That is wise and I will do so.”
    “Be wary of Two Feathers, my husband, for he is evil and dangerous.”
    Cloud Chaser looked into her worried gaze. “I do not trust him. Fear not, for soon his evil will be exposed to the others as it has been to us.”
    “I hope so,” Macha said. “For his hate of you does not weaken, and I fear it.”
    “Do not forget that the Great Spirit watches over and protects us. He will allow no harm to come to us. I will—” His words were interrupted politely by Caroline when she told him the rabbits were done cooking. He nodded and relayed the message to Macha, who joined the captive at the fire.
    As they ate, Caroline yearned to question Cloud Chaser about the warrior’s visit. She suspected that the conversation had included her. She had sensed a potent and alarming aura emanating from the other man, and she perceived the two men were enemies or fierce rivals. She didn’t know why, but she found the other brave intimidating, as if he were a lethal threat to her. When she could restrain her gnawing curiosity no longer, Caroline asked, “Is the man who visited earlier another brother or a close friend?”
    Cloud Chaser paused before answering. He was impressed by the clever way she was trying to glean information. “Hisname is Two Feathers. He is the son of my father’s sister, my first